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LT4 upgrade on a L98

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Old 10-10-2004, 07:01 PM
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Car: 89 GTA
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LT4 upgrade on a L98

I know that you can put a lt1 intake on a L98 tpi. I see in summit the have a lt1 to lt4 upgrade kit, heads, cam, intake. Would it be possible to put on a L98 between 87-89 year. And if so would it run with the stock computer or would it need to be reprogramed to run right.
Old 10-10-2004, 07:17 PM
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you CAN NOT mix l98 and lt1, lt4 heads, the blocks are different and due to reverse flow cooling they wont work, you can mix the intake and cam though you have to make a remote thermostat houseing, you will need computer reprograming for the different intakes, go with a holly super ram it is an easier install but the cam and everything else will work
Old 10-10-2004, 07:23 PM
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Yes, you CAN mix LT1/LT4 heads/intake/cam on an L98.

TPI rock proved its possible to convert the LT1/LT4 style heads to work on a standard SBC. The thread exists on this forum, even has pictures.
Old 10-10-2004, 07:27 PM
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that is news to me im gonna have to check it out, but i can only assume its not an easy swap buy why would you really want to just drop a whole lt1 in there why do all that swap a few more bucks will just be a whole motor swap prob will cost less and look better in the long run
Old 10-10-2004, 07:42 PM
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Originally posted by FruityOne
Yes, you CAN mix LT1/LT4 heads/intake/cam on an L98.
Yup. There is (was?) a dealership in PA that converts the heads for use on a Gen I SBC. LT1Intake.com has this article scanned on the matter:
http://www.lt1intake.com/LT1_retrofit.htm

Unfortunately there's no date in the scan so I have no idea how old that article is and if the dealership still does the conversion.
Old 10-10-2004, 07:46 PM
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for that kind of pain ill just go get a set of afr heads or somethng like that that will out flow the lt1 heads sometimes too many mods is never a good thing
Old 10-10-2004, 08:41 PM
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I did the LT1 swap, getting all of my parts from lt1intake. I used Trick Flow heads, but I did use the LT4 Hotcam and I am extremely happy with the results. The swap was very easy, easier than the high flow TPI I did a year earlier. And like mentioned earlier, just get a set of good aftermarket heads and roller rockers(I went with Trick Flow 1.6s)and you'll be happy. There has been mention of the LT1 swap looking like crap before, but that is hogwash if you do it right. I think mine looks pretty good.
Attached Thumbnails LT4  upgrade on a L98-newenginepic2.jpg  
Old 10-10-2004, 11:24 PM
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for all the trouble, you can just about go get yourself a complete LT1...the prices have come down a lot since the LS1 came out. Just need to know where to look. Then you get the added benefit of reverse-flow cooling.

87GTA Runner - your install looks pretty good, but I can see how tight things are around that dizzy. LOL. Plus I don't see your remote mount thermostat in that pic (probably over on the other side hiding )
Old 10-11-2004, 04:14 PM
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Durty, it's a little cramped by the distributor, but not moreso than with the TPI. You can see the remote t-stat in the upper right of the pic. It's painted blue and has the stainless heater hose going to it. I mounted it sideways to save a little more room.
Old 10-11-2004, 04:59 PM
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Originally posted by FruityOne
Yes, you CAN mix LT1/LT4 heads/intake/cam on an L98.

TPI rock proved its possible to convert the LT1/LT4 style heads to work on a standard SBC. The thread exists on this forum, even has pictures.
What do u think is a better flowing set of heads? Vortec Heads or LT1 heads?
Old 10-11-2004, 05:13 PM
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Yo know, I'm not too sure. Never really seen a compare between them.

If I had to guess, I'd hazzard that the LT1 heads have slightly better flow. But not alot.

Main advantage is that they are a cheap set of Aluminum heads. Cheaper it seems than the Aluminum L98 heads from vettes.
Old 10-11-2004, 06:00 PM
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http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/41598/

According to CHP, the vortec flows a little bit better than the LT1 head. The intake port is supposedly the same as the iron LT1 head from the impala ss/caprice though, so they flow the same as Vortecs.
Old 10-11-2004, 08:36 PM
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Originally posted by SloNlo350
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/41598/

According to CHP, the vortec flows a little bit better than the LT1 head. The intake port is supposedly the same as the iron LT1 head from the impala ss/caprice though, so they flow the same as Vortecs.
Cool thanks for the responses!!
Old 10-11-2004, 11:24 PM
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a bit off topic, but has anyone tried the new aluminum fastburns? So far I've only heard good things about them, but that was from ads n' magazines n' such, so the info might be skewed. I have trick flow 195 CNC'd heads on the current engine, but I've been thinking about building a mild race/bad *** street motor in the future. the whole vortec style intake design has been getting a lot of praise so i figure that aluminum fastburn versions must be the sh**. If the power and torque figures for the ZZ383 are accurate, then these heads must have some serious flow, along with plenty of velocity on the bottom end.
Oh, and this next engine may or may not be outfitted with a procharger... depends on the budget after I tally up how much this build is gonna cost.
Old 10-13-2004, 05:44 PM
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You cannot mix an LT4 intake with LT1 heads or visa versa. However you could put an LT4 head/intake combo on a SBC, or an LT1 head/intake combo if you were crazy .
Old 10-13-2004, 10:45 PM
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An SBC with the Fastburn heads and a modified LT4 intake would match-up NICLY.

Last edited by 83_1/2 L69; 10-13-2004 at 11:37 PM.
Old 10-14-2004, 08:09 AM
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Originally posted by 87GTA Runner
Durty, it's a little cramped by the distributor, but not moreso than with the TPI. You can see the remote t-stat in the upper right of the pic. It's painted blue and has the stainless heater hose going to it. I mounted it sideways to save a little more room.
When I modified my LT1 intake - I routed the hoses the same way with the coolant fittings on the back of the intake.. IMO, it looked cluttered. I'll also bet a pic from the other side of the engine bay where the remote t-stat is in the foreground would not look so nice.


Just my opinion, of course.
Old 10-14-2004, 05:16 PM
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Originally posted by tpi_roc
You cannot mix an LT4 intake with LT1 heads or visa versa. However you could put an LT4 head/intake combo on a SBC, or an LT1 head/intake combo if you were crazy .
you can port match an LT1 intake to LT4 heads. you may be able to do it the other way but most have an LT1 intake so they just get the heads and port match.
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